Bolton's Gary Megson rues return to the Hawthorns

21 March 2009 06:50

The Bolton manager, making his first return to the Hawthorns since he was dismissed as manager in 2004, was sent off as his side struggled to contain West Brom in the dying minutes of this 1-1 draw, a result which has left both sides no safer from relegation than when the match started.

'I am disappointed,' he said of the result. 'I cant remember them getting a shot on target. Even their goal wasn't on target.'

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Indeed, while Albion have inched closer to those teams above them, and Tony Mowbray, their manager, refuses to countenance the prospect of relegation, their continued failure to capitalise on momentum is a major problem.

As has so often been the case this season, Albion's build up tends to break down on meeting the opposition area. There have been monks more menacing.

Bolton should have taken advantage, but Scott Carson looks to have gained confidence from securing his first clean sheet in nine games against West Ham last week, for the Albion goalkeeper twice got his body in the way of powerful free-kicks from Matt Taylor.

But when he missed Kevin Davies' header from a corner, and James Morrison cleared off the line, it was clear the home side were riding their luck. Their good fortune ran out when Taylor lashed the ball into the bottom corner in the second half.

Desperate times, as they say. Mowbray turned to 'cavalier' tactics, and a two-man defence. With less than ten minutes remaining, Robert Koren's shot took a heavy deflection off Danny Shittu which foxed Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Minutes later, Taylor had only Carson to beat, but the goalkeeper emerged to meet the danger head on and produced a super save. With five minutes of added time, West Brom launched themselves forward, but they were like a teenager on his first date: full of enthusiasm, but not sure how to go in for the kill.